标签： Europe

In a significant development within the British royal family, Prince Andrew has announced his decision to relinquish his royal title as the Duke of York and other associated honors. This decision comes in the wake of renewed public scrutiny over his association with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The announcement was made in a statement released by Buckingham Palace on Friday, where Prince Andrew emphasized that the ongoing allegations against him were becoming a distraction from the duties of King Charles III and the royal family at large.

Prince Andrew, 65, has consistently denied any wrongdoing, particularly in relation to the accusations made by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who alleged that she was trafficked by Epstein and had sexual encounters with the prince when she was 17. Giuffre, who tragically passed away by suicide in April at the age of 41, detailed these allegations in a posthumous memoir set to be published soon. In 2021, Giuffre filed a lawsuit against Prince Andrew, which was settled in 2022 for an undisclosed sum. As part of the settlement, Prince Andrew acknowledged Epstein’s role as a sex trafficker and recognized Giuffre as a victim of abuse.

This is not the first time Prince Andrew has faced public backlash over his ties to Epstein. In a widely criticized BBC interview in November 2019, his attempts to refute Giuffre’s claims were met with skepticism and further damaged his reputation. Following the interview, he stepped down from his royal duties. Now, with the release of Giuffre’s memoir reigniting public interest in the case, Prince Andrew has taken the additional step of giving up his titles, including Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. However, he will retain his status as a prince, a title he has held since birth.

In a significant legislative move, Portugal’s parliament has passed a bill prohibiting the wearing of face veils for ‘gender or religious’ reasons in most public spaces. The bill, primarily targeting Islamic face coverings such as burqas and niqabs, was introduced by the far-right Chega party and received backing from center-right political groups. While the ban excludes specific locations like airplanes, diplomatic premises, and places of worship, violators could face fines ranging from 200 euros to 4,000 euros ($234 to $4,669). The legislation now awaits approval from President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who may either sign it into law, veto it, or refer it to the Constitutional Court for further review. If enacted, Portugal would join several European nations, including Austria, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, which have implemented full or partial bans on face and head coverings. Although the number of women in Portugal wearing such garments is relatively small, the issue has sparked debates similar to those in other European countries. Chega has justified the ban by arguing that face coverings perpetuate ‘exclusion and inferiority,’ particularly for women, and contradict principles of ‘liberty, equality, and human dignity.’

In a case that has captivated France for years, 38-year-old painter-decorator Cédric Jubillar has been found guilty of murdering his wife, Delphine Jubillar, despite the absence of her body. The trial, which lasted four weeks in the southern town of Albi, concluded with Jubillar being sentenced to 30 years in prison. The jury, comprising six civilians and three magistrates, determined that circumstantial evidence was sufficient to convict him, even though Delphine’s remains were never found. Prosecutors had sought the maximum sentence, and Jubillar’s defense team has announced plans to appeal the verdict. Delphine, 33, vanished on the night of December 15-16, 2020, during the Covid pandemic, from the couple’s home in Cagnac-les-Mines, where they lived with their two young children. Jubillar reported her missing at 04:00 on December 16, claiming he had been awakened by their younger child’s cries. Extensive searches, including in nearby abandoned mines, yielded no trace of her. The trial revealed that the couple’s relationship had deteriorated, with Delphine seeking a divorce and beginning an affair with a man she met on a chatline. Prosecutors argued that Jubillar killed her in a fit of rage after she disclosed the affair, likely by strangulation, and disposed of her body in the surrounding countryside. Key evidence included Delphine’s car parked unusually, broken glasses in the sitting room, and Jubillar’s lack of movement recorded on his phone pedometer. Psychological assessments portrayed Jubillar as a troubled individual with a history of substance abuse and difficulty maintaining employment. His defense argued that the evidence was speculative and that no physical traces of a crime were found. However, the jury’s ‘intimate conviction’ of his guilt led to the verdict. The case has sparked widespread media attention and online speculation, with amateur detectives offering theories about Delphine’s disappearance. Jubillar’s lawyers maintain his innocence and plan to challenge the decision in a higher court.

In a groundbreaking move toward unity, the Catholic Church and the Church of England will hold a historic ecumenical prayer service on October 23 in the Sistine Chapel. This event, centered on their shared commitment to caring for God’s creation, will feature Britain’s King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV praying together for the first time since the Reformation. The visit, originally planned for April, was postponed due to the late Pope Francis’ illness and subsequent passing. King Charles, the titular head of the Church of England, has long expressed a desire to visit the Vatican during the 2025 Holy Year, following in the footsteps of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who visited during the 2000 Jubilee. During his visit, Charles will be honored with the title “Royal Confrater” at St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, a basilica with deep ties to the Church of England. This title symbolizes spiritual fellowship and will be accompanied by a specially designed chair bearing his coat of arms, reserved for him and his heirs. The two churches have been divided since 1534, when King Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church after being denied a marriage annulment. While relations have warmed in recent decades, significant differences remain, particularly regarding the ordination of female priests, which the Catholic Church prohibits. Notably, the Archbishop of Canterbury-designate, Sarah Mullally, will not attend the service as she has yet to be formally installed. Instead, the Archbishop of York will join Pope Leo in leading the service, which will feature hymns performed by both the royal choirs and the Sistine Chapel choir. Monsignor Flavio Pace, secretary of the Vatican’s office for promoting Christian unity, emphasized that theological dialogue should continue despite these differences. This historic event marks a significant step in bridging centuries of division between the two churches.